Uncovering Soil Horizons: Key to Understanding Earth's Past and Future.
This article discusses different types of soil layers called soil horizons, how they are used in Soil Taxonomy, and their importance in understanding soil behavior. Soil horizons are formed by a combination of climate, living organisms, parent soil material, and time. The presence or absence of specific soil horizons helps classify different types of soils. Each soil horizon has unique characteristics that reflect its origin and composition, affecting its behavior. Some horizons accumulate materials like clay and organic matter, while others lose them. Pedologists study these horizons in the field and collect samples for further analysis in the lab.